Lack of clinical efficacy of a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor for treatment of heaves in horses.

Abstract

Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE 4) enzyme inhibitors have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in various animal disease processes and therefore could be effective drugs for the treatment of equine airway diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of the PDE 4 inhibitor L-826,141 in horses with heaves. In a blinded parallel design, horses with heaves exposed daily to moldy hay were given a placebo for 14 days and then administered either L-826,141 (n = 6; loading dose of 1 mg/kg IV followed by 0.5 mg/kg IV q48h) or dexamethasone (n = 6; 0.04 mg/kg IV q24h) from days 15 to 29 (study 1). Pulmonary function and bronchoalveolar (BAL) cytology were evaluated weekly from baseline (day 0) to 29 days. In study 2, horses were treated with L-826,141 (1.0 mg/kg IV q24h) for 8 days. Although ex vivo lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and LTB4 production by fresh blood were inhibited up to 90% after repeated administrations of L-826,141, this treatment failed to improve lung function. In contrast, dexamethasone (positive control) treatment resulted in significant improvement in lung mechanics and airway function in all horses. Neither drug had a significant effect on BAL total cell counts and differential cytology. Administration of the PDE 4 inhibitor L-826,141 for up to 14 days to horses with heaves was not associated with an improvement in airway function or inflammation. These findings suggest that the PDE 4 enzyme is not a key mediator of lung inflammation in heaves.

• Authors: Jean-Pierre Lavoie, Kirby Pasloske, Philippe Joubert, Marie-Eve Cordeau, Joseph Mancini, Yves Girard, Richard W Friesen, Richard Frenette, Marc Blouin, Robert N Young, Gerry Hickey
• Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine (J Vet Intern Med) 2006 Jan-Feb Vol. 20 Issue 1 Pg. 175-81 ISSN: 0891-6640 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16496938 (Publication Type: Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Inhibitors
• L-826,141
• Pyridines
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Leukotriene B4
• 3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases
• Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4

Topics

• 3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Animals
• Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Enzyme Inhibitors (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Horse Diseases (drug therapy)
• Horses
• Leukotriene B4 (metabolism)
• Lung Diseases, Obstructive (drug therapy, metabolism, veterinary)
• Pyridines (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (metabolism)